Raisin Preserves

This started out as another personal challenge to myself…

After successfully recreating Apple Pie and Carrot Cake into jams, I figured why not tackle my favorite pie?  What could be so difficult?  Well… my favorite pie is Mincemeat – I ended up entering my own special circle of hell!  😀 Plus I was plagued with a taste memory that I really wanted to try and recreate.

The vast majority of my grandparent experiences growing up revolve around my maternal grandparents, Della Mae and Henry.  Della Mae was the one who taught me how to can, sew, cook, knit & crochet, her recipes are the ones that I turn to more often than not, but there was also my paternal Grandparents, Truella and Leroy.  My father, Parker, was a Pastry Chef by trade, and while he was only in my life for my first 8 years, I do have quite vivid memories of him, some of them time that I spent with him in the kitchen, standing on a stool at the counter next to him while he worked on something.  I truly believe to the day that the reason Mincemeat is my all time favorite pie is because it reminds me of the flavors found in this raisin preserves, or spread.  To me, when I think of Raisin toast, it’s not toasted Raisin bread with butter and cinnamon; it’s an english muffin, toasted, with these preserves spread on them.  I remember my Father making this; I remember my paternal Grandmother making this — and I wanted to recreate it.

It took MONTHS of playing around with flavors and textures, but I have finally hit on something that I am more than happy with.  So much so, that THIS flavor is my new favorite.  I can’t stop dipping my spoon into it; and I don’t have much of a sweet tooth.  Not only does it knock it out of the park where nostalgia is concerned, but the flavor is OUT OF THIS WORLD.  If Mincemeat and Spiced/Mulled Wine were to spend the night together, these preserves would be their love child… 😀

Instead of hoarding this flavor all to myself, I suppose I’ll make it available to y’all, since I love all of you.  Don’t say I never did anything for you!! 🙂